§15.14.1vi Kalend. accepi a Dolabella litteras. quarum exemplum tibi misi.
On June 26th, I received a letter from Dolabella, a copy of which I have sent to you.
in quibus erat omnia se fecisse quae tu velles.
In it, he stated that he had done everything you wished.
statim ei rescripsi et multis verbis gratias egi.
I replied to him immediately and thanked him in many words.
sed tamen ne miraretur cur idem iterum facerem, hoc causae sumpsi quod ex te ipso coram antea nihil potuissem cognoscere.
But nevertheless, so that he would not wonder why I was doing the same thing again, I took this as an excuse, that I had previously been unable to learn anything from you yourself in person.
sed quid multa? litteras hoc exemplo dedi:
But why many words?
§15.14.2"CICERO DOLABELLAE COS. suo.
I sent a letter in these terms: "Cicero to his Dolabella, Consul.
antea cum litteris Attici nostri de tua summa liberalitate summoque erga se beneficio certior factus essem cumque tu ipse etiam ad me scripsisses te fecisse ea quae nos voluissemus, egi tibi gratias per litteras iis verbis ut intellegeres nihil te mihi gratius facere potuisse.
Previously, when I had been informed by the letter of our friend Atticus of your utmost generosity and your greatest kindness toward him, and when you yourself had also written to me that you had done those things we wished, I thanked you by letter in such words that you might understand that you could have done nothing more pleasing to me.
postea vero quam ipse Atticus ad me venit in Tusculanum huius unius rei causa tibi ut apud me gratias ageret, cuius eximiam quandam et admirabilem in causa Buthrotia voluntatem et singularem erga se amorem perspexisset, teneri non potui quin tibi apertius illud idem his litteris declararem.
But after Atticus himself came to me at my Tusculan estate for the sake of this one thing, to express his gratitude to you in my presence, having clearly perceived your outstanding and admirable goodwill in the cause of Buthrotum and your singular love toward him, I could not restrain myself from declaring that same thing to you more openly in this letter.
ex omnibus enim, mi Dolabella, studiis in me et officiis quae summa sunt hoc scito mihi et amplissimum videri et gratissimum esse quod perfeceris ut Atticus intellegeret quantum ego te, quantum tu me amares.
For of all your support and kindnesses toward me, which are greatest, my dear Dolabella, know this, that it seems to me both most magnificent and most pleasing that you have brought it about that Atticus should understand how much I love you and how much you love me.
" §15.14.3"quod reliquum est, Buthrotiam a et causam et civitatem, quamquam a te constituta est (beneficia autem nostra tueri solemus), tamen velim receptam in fidem tuam a meque etiam atque etiam tibi commendatam auctoritate et auxilio tuo tectam velis esse.
""As for what remains, although the cause and the state of Buthrotum have been established by you (and we are accustomed to protect our own benefits), yet I would wish that they, having been received into your protection and repeatedly commended to you by me, should be shielded by your authority and aid.
satis erit in perpetuum Buthrotiis praesidi magnaque cura et sollicitudine Atticum et me liberaris, si hoc honoris mei causa susceperis ut eos semper a te defensos velis.
It will be a sufficient protection for the Buthrotians forever, and you will free Atticus and me from great care and anxiety, if for the sake of my honor you undertake to wish them always defended by you.
quod ut facias te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.
That you may do so, I earnestly ask you again and again.
" §15.14.4his litteris scriptis me ad συντάξεισ dedi; quae quidem vereor ne miniata cerula tua pluribus locis notandae sint.
"After writing this letter, I gave myself to my compositions; which indeed I fear must be marked in many places with your red wax.
ita sum μετέωροσ et magnis cogitationibus impeditus.
I am so distracted and hindered by great anxieties.